World Series Winning Baseball Player Shares His Faith in God

On Wednesday night, the Houston Astros made baseball history when they won the World Series for the first time. The game, which was played against the Los Angeles Dodgers in L.A., ended with All-Star slugger Jose Altuve catching the last out.

"I always believed that we could make it," said Altuve. "We did this for them," he said, referring the fans from Houston who have had a difficult year after being pounded by Hurricane Harvey.

"I caught the last out for the Houston Astros to become a world champion. It was a groundball to me, I threw to first, and I think it was the happiest moment of my life in baseball," shared Altuve.

Likewise, Altuve's home run during Game 5 on Sunday night is credited for the Astros’ rally against the Dodgers. The team won 13-12 in the last inning.

"At that point, I talked to him before getting the at-bat: 'This is your moment,'" shortstop Carlos Correa said. "He didn't let me down. He hit a homer and got us going."

This was 27-year-old Altuve's first World Series. Altuve isn’t supposed to be playing in the major leagues. At 5’6” or even smaller, he’s the shortest player in baseball. He was cut when he tried out as a teenager because of his height.

Now Altuve has shown all his critics. He’s a major league baseball player—playing for millions of adoring fans—and he gives all the glory to God.

"To achieve success wasn't to get into the major leagues or have the best season in the world. The best success is to live your life the way God wants you to," he told The Houston Chronicle.

"If you can do that—if you can be good with God—then I think you will have success in your life."

In the interview, Altuve also reminded Christians that we need to not only ask God for blessings but also thank Him for all He gives us.

“We need to not just ask God but thank Him for everything like our health, our family. And ask Him to bless our homes and to always be present in our daily lives. And to keep us safe is most important," Altuve continued.

When he was a teen who was cut in the Astros tryouts, it was his dad who convinced him to go back the next year. But Altuve’s dad had another gift—besides believed in his—to give to his son. Altuve credits his parents for raising him with faith.

"I grew up in a family that always believed in God. And I feel like every morning when you wake up you have to thank Him just for another day. I do it every day," he told CBN Sports.

In the interview, Altuve also spoke about the devastation brought down upon Houston by Hurricane Harvey. He said he wanted to win for the fans who had been through so much.

"And talking about Houston, it's been a city that's been going through lot of things this year. And now we are in the World Series. We want to win this World Series for them because they deserve it and because they've been true fans all year long," he said.